About

$16,194

pledged of $15,000 goal

122

backers

*Last Minute Reward!*

Feet cookies anyone? :)

With just 3 days of the Feetprints campaign remaining, I am adding delicious home-made chocolate chip expresso cookies baked in the shapes of varietal FEET to my backer rewards at just $45 a batch! Home baked with love and door-to-door delivery by pedal bike from yours truly! *limited delivery cycle route within New York City 5 boroughs only please!* :)

Why Feetprints?

Because Feetprints is FUN! It's a unique app that says NO to the algorithms increasingly defining our lives, preferences, and choices.

With Feetprints, you can point your smart phone at an object in the wild or in a city and tag it with a message, say your favorite Shel Silverstein poem by a eucalyptus tree that gives, or sing a song from your favorite Ray Charles tune by a historic brownstone in Central Harlem.

Most of all, it's a playful game mapping our 'feetprints' as a connected community reminding us to explore and be open-minded to some of our best moments - those that appear randomly in the unexpected.

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How does it work?

Want to Play? Download the free iOS app "Feetprints." Join a community of playful storytellers and map your Feetprints anywhere.

Simply tap "What's your Story?" and go about your usual day!

As you meander through the city, imagine passing a eucalyptus tree where you decide to leave a Feetprint. Read your favorite poem or sing a silly song virtually and store it virtually in the cloud by the tree.

Like a miniature gnome,

in search of a home,

she skips her own rhythm,

where the wildebeest roam.

A week passes. A stranger walks by who also happens to be playing the Feetprints game. As he passes the same tree, a Feetprint appears on a map at the location where your poem was stored.

Point your smartphone in the sky at location and discover 'a message in a bottle' stored in augmented reality by a stranger. Experience warm fuzzies. Serendipity!

Let's leave global feetprints across cities around the world through shared stories we create, experience and map together.

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The Feetprints journey

Feetprints grew out of a
labor of love---a realization that people around the world crave real,
human interactions. We wish to understand one another in a deeper, more
meaningful way. So, why not do so playfully?

There is a vast
array of communication tools that exist which allow us to 'stay
connected' in our plethora of social spheres. And yet, these forms of
connection always inevitably fall short somehow. In spite of our
technology, I am left feeling rather disconnected, lost in a sea of
eight to ten million faces here in New York City, and I am not the only
one who feels this way.

My solution? Feetprints.

Feetprints
is my small contribution to the world. It is an attempt to embrace and
explore technology as a tool to create playful solutions to local
community problems. How might we reimagine technology and its myriad of
uses so that we might 'better connect'? How can we maintain spontaneity,
mystery and elements of the unexpected in our everyday lives?

Feetprints allows each one of us to be our own modern day explorers
in a world driven by algorithms. It reminds us to be adventurous, to
take risks rather than hide behind computer screens, consoles, iPads,
and Netflix, starved for real life experiences. Feetprints grants us a
reason to get out and play, even in our very own backyards by getting to know our neighbors
through entropy. It is a new form of interactive storytelling,
encouraging the communities we inhabit to interact with a history that lives.
Imagine leaving a trail of Feetprints anywhere---of a fond memory, a
cookie crumb trail of daily jokes, or a choose-your-own-adventure of
sorts of quirk & happenstance---the possibilities are endless!

From a broader framework, as we enter a more globalized society,
growing a deeper understanding of the cultures around us and the
communities in which we inhabit is crucial. We need to learn to embrace a
deeper cultural literacy and dare to expose ourselves to new faces, new
languages. In my life thus, I've learned that the only solution to a better understanding of
one another's circumstance, is one that requires empathy which requires
that we interact, sans intention or objective, just simply and
playfully.

Team of builders & believers

A talented and dedicated group of friends have offered their free time and energy to the creation of this app. Most of all, we are a small, yet committed cohort of believers in the mission & movement of playfullness. Whether it be in the form of design, music, coding, gaming history, or just plain tinkering, these people are angels on earth molded with chocolate hearts. For this, I thank you, for believing in Feetprints and the Playfull movement.

But we can't do this alone. With your support, we can make the Playfull movement a reality!

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Playfull Labs mission & movement

Playfull Labs is dedicated to educating and empowering through play. We create games and playful experiences that seek to address local problems with collaborative community-based solutions.

Our imagination is limitless and capable of the fantastic. At Playfull, we explore technology as a tool to "better connect" online so we remember to get offline and connect better.

Join the Playfull movement

Playfull Labs is a public forum, a meeting place, but we can't meet each other alone. Whether you are an artist or engineer, a programmer or animator, an educator, or scientist, an activist or poet, a musician, a cook or filmmaker, come tinker with us.

Join the Playfull movement and create compelling narratives by exploring games as a medium to address community concerns. As Playfull grows, I envision games and playful experiences to harness a much broader definition---one that may includes small and large scale community art-installations and interactive participatory projects on our streets, in our gardens, museums, and schools. How far can our imagination stretch when we come together as a global community?

Feetprints is a reminder to hold fast to the mystery that still remains, and to take action in creating them. Most of all, it is a fun way to build stronger connections with my community everyday.

Risks and challenges

All campaigns come with risks and challenges. I have taken the time to list the main challenges I foresee in this project and the preventions I am putting in place to address each:

- The main challenge I foresee is the production of the game taking longer or costing more than initially expected or budgeted. To address this concern, I have already spoken to a handful of friends---talented programmers, designers, and community ambassadors who believe in the Playfull movement and "Feetprints" campaign. I have also already mapped out a detailed budget of where the funds will go if we reach our funding goal, mainly to building up a strong Playfull team and to compensate time and energy of those who have generously given their time and hearts to the movement. We estimate the iOS app to be created and available within 2-3 months maximum with the Murder Mystery Launch Party as the goal and community reward to ensure the Playfull Team meets production lead times and manage expectations in its delivery.

- Whilst most Kickstarter campaigns experience challenges in fulfillment, as this is a mobile app game, digital distributions will be timely assuming production meets its deadline. I did my best to create a unique combination of both physical and experientially based rewards. A challenge will arise in production and distribution of the 3D printed Playfull animal, as each momento will take considerable time and costs to print, package carefully so as not to break, and of course mail with care. I have plans to throw an animal bash and package party with all the animal crackers any human could ever desire to ensure no time is wasted and only the careful come fully equipped.

- There is always the chicken and the egg problem with these sorts of mobile app games where we need 'feetprints' stored in the cloud across a reasonable landscape for this game to develop and map stories geographically over space. To preempt this, I have planned for our first test case of the game to take place in a Brooklyn loft space with character where the Murder Mystery Launch Party will be held. Imagine "Feetprints" everywhere, but we'll first play Hide & Seek in our home, one Brooklyn neighborhood at a time. I also have a network of solid friends around the world who are excited to be "Feetprint" Ambassadors and will be leaving trails of stories in global cities, music halls, and dance circles around the globe.

That being said, I am open to all and any suggestions, questions and comments throughout the process, so feel free to contact me at any time and have a dialogue. I promise to read each message, note and scribble and respond accordingly. Tally-ho!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10 or more
About $10

You believe in the Playfull movement! At a $10 pledge, you become a Playfull Pal and will receive an exclusive invitation to the beta launch of the "Feetprints" game! In addition, you will receive access to behind the scenes updates on the creation of the game throughout the process.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

You believe in the Playfull movement and wish to become a Playfull Ambassador. At a $25 pledge, in addition to receiving an exclusive invitation our "Feetprints" beta launch, you will also be invited to our community game of "Capture the Flag" in Prospect Park for a picnic of refreshments and finger foods! You'll be able to meet & mingle with other Playfull Ambassadors. If you're too far-flung across the globe, have no fear, as we will send you a global Feetprints postcard from our grassy knoll in Brooklyn, NY with your chosen image seemlessly integrated. Prep your poses wisely!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

You love being playful and have a penchant for the arts & crafts. At a $40 pledge, you will receive a unique 3-D printed Feetprints Playfull creature (Think: wonder walrus) letting you and your neighbors know, you too, believe in serendipitous encounters on our global city streets! You will of course, also receive all the previously mentioned benefits above.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $65 or more
About $65

You love being playful and wish to become a Premium Playfull Member. At a $65 pledge, you & your guest of honor will receive VIP tickets to our "Feetprints" Murder Mystery Launch Party, where you can play to your character's content. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative of costumes of the DIY variety. Finger-food assortments & a minty+herb-infused mystery concoctions will be served. Meet old friends and make a-new, all whilst exploring in augmented reality with the launch of the "Feetprints" game! Location to be disclosed to Premium Members by invitation-only.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

You are Playfull and wish to push the Playfull's first game, "Feetprints" into production. At a $150 pledge, Playfull Labs will interview you, and create a custom podcast for you as an individual, organization or cause of choice and feature this podcast short on the Playfull website! Email dates and details to info@playfull.us. You will also of course, receive an invitation to the "Feetprints" beta launch!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

Become a Playfull Explorer. You not only believe in the Playfull movement, but you also want to actively take part in a serendipitous encounter on foreign soil in neighborhood streets ;) At a $250 pledge, you will receive a members-only exclusive whilst taking a journey. If you anticipate being in the following global cities over the next year, you will receive a unique opportunity to meet a global Feetprints Fellow Feetprints Explorer of said home country who will act as your country host and take you on a mini surprise explore of said local town or city of choice! These cities include (but are not limited to): New York, Kampala, London, Lima, Shanghai, Santiago, Berlin, Stockholm, Beijing, Cape Town, Los Angeles, Helsinki, Nairobi, Hyderabad, Dili, San Francisco, Maban, Kathmandu, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Oslo, Rome, Lagos, Istanbul, Dublin, Bucharest, Tel Aviv, Portland, Barcelona, Athens. *Backers Beware* Must have an open mind! If have other city/small town suggestions yet unnamed or would like to be a Feetprints Host Explorer, please get in touch! Valid anytime between October 01.2013 and October 01.2014. Of course, you will also receive an invitation to the "Feetprints" beta launch party and lifetime membership to Playfull's colorful content, videos + playful games + experiences!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

Become a Playfull Spirit Animal. You are Playfull want to see help push Feetprints into production! At a $500 pledge, you will receive an exclusive 5-minute interview by Playfull Labs Founder and featured on the Playfull website (not to mention an exclusively fun audience)! *Backers beware*-Prepare to have this video rock your world! ;) Video interviews include shorts, promo vids for startups, brands & events. Email dates and custom-tailored requests to Stephanie@playfull.us with questions. Of course, you will also receive an invitation to the "Feetprints" beta launch party and lifetime membership to Playfull's colorful content, videos + playful games + experiences!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,500 or more
About $1,500

Become a Playfull Patron. You believe deeply in the Playfull movement! At a $1500 pledge, you want to trumpet reminders of being playful to the masses and in exchange for your good spirit will receive a custom-crafted training session on the mechanics and theory of play and practical application of tools on games-thinking hosted by Playfull Lab's Founder for you and your organization or company team. You wish to integrate a more Playfull's mission to your own and want to explore possibilities within your organization's potential. Of course, you will also receive an invitation to the "Feetprints" beta launch party & exclusive lifetime membership to Playfull's colorful content, videos and playful games + experiences!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

Become a Playfull Sponsor. At the $5000 pledge, you as an individual or organization will celebrated as the sponsor our "Feetprints" Launch Event. You as an individual or organization will also be able to identify a problem of choice for Playfull Labs' next game, in addition to all previously listed rewards and benefits. Of course, an invitation to the "Feetprints" beta launch & Of course, you will receive an invitation to the "Feetprints" beta launch & exclusive lifetime membership to Playfull's content, video and games!